Gauging device



A. R. WARNER eAueme DEVICE Dex: 30,, 1947,

Filed Aug. 1, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNE Y Dec. 30, 1947. A. R. WARNER Gweme navxca Fiied Aug. 1, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill-I'll ATTOPNE Y Dec. 30, 1947. WARNER 2,433,585

swarm DEVICE Filed Aug. 1, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A TTORNE' Y Patented Dec. 30, 1947 I i UNITED STATES PAjrENr OFFICE 2,488,585 GAUGING DEVICE Arthur Richard Warner. Waiton-on-Thames. England Application August 1, 1944, Serial No. 547,648 In Great Britain July 1, 1943 Section L'Pliblic Law 690, August 8, 1948 Patent expires July 1, 1963 ii'claima. (01. 111-311) 1 2 This invention relates to improvements in indicates that the article iswithin the predetergauging devices and more particularly to devices mined limits. the arrangement being such that in which one of three electric lamps is illuminated in use one lamp and one only will always light up. to check mass-produced parts or articles to pre- The invention further consists in providing a determined limits. lamp circuit for a gauging device comprising a These lamps are adapted to give a clear and switch in shunt with each lamp indicating above unmistakable indication however close the limits and below the predetermined limits, a switch in to which a part is being checked. This is in conseries with the lamps and a low voltag supply trast to the more usual devices in which a pointer of current. a-resistance in shunt with the lampis moved over a graduated scale on which adindicating that the article is within the predeteriustable "tolerance marks"- are set at the points mined limits and means'on a movable member corresponding to the minus and plus limits reto operate the switches whereby any one of the spectively. When the tolerance is small, these three lamps will be illuminated according to the marks lie very close together and the attention movement of the movable member.

of the operator is taxed, and his judgment liable is The invention still further consists in providto err, in telling whether the pointer has come ing means whereby the maximum and minimum to rest Just within or outside the zone of tolerance limits of the gauging device may be varied by lying between the two marks. The lamps of the adjustment of the switches.

electrical indicator on the other hand, always The invention will now be described with refgive the same clear and unmistakable indication, 0 erence to the accompanying drawings in which:

quite irrespective of whether the tolerance lies Figure 1 is a circuit diagram for the electrical between close or wide limits. indicator;

The object of the present invention is to pro- Figure 2 is a front elevation of one construcvide an electrical indicator in which: tional form of indicator device;

There js'no multiplication of movement i Figure 3 is a similar view with the front cover the moving parts, thereby greatly simplifying the removed;

construction and eliminating the errors and me- Figure 4 is a vertical section thereof drawn to chanical wear arising from such multiplication a slightly larger scale:

of nt, Figure 5 is a detail showing one form of means (b) Sparking or arcing is virtually eliminated for preventing rotation of the operating spindle;

across the gaps between the switch contacts, I u e 6 i a cross Section e which gaps are exceedingly small owing to the Fi re '7 is a diagram showing the switches,

absence of multiplication of movement in the ps and wirin of t d vi e. th pa ts being moving parts. in their normal positions and (c) Simple means are provided to achieve a Figure 3 is a Similar View with the p rt i a positive change-over from one lamp to another P t on to give an "O. K. indication.

' during the movement of the measuring spindle Referring to the drawings and more particubefore this comes to rest. so that in the final iariy to Figures 1, 7 and 8 the c rcu t empl yed checking position taken up by the spindle, one for lighting the three lamps 2 d 3 to i dicate lamp. and one only, will always light up. p t e y C p ises I (d) To provide simple means for setting the a Supply a 4 to One arm 5 of a switch which plus d minus t for convenience of description is indicated as A.

A still further object is to provide an indicator The other rm 6 Of this switch A is connected to using a l Voltage supply for th lamps and a the-arm 1 of another switch B and to one terlamp circuit in which use is made of an external v 5 al Of the filament 8 of the minus lamp i. The resistance and of the fact that the resistance of other arm 9 of this switch B is connected to the the lamp filament in the cold state, as when c'urother terminal and to the other or return supply rent is commencing to flow, is relatively low. l d i l through the filaments ii and i2 of the With the above and other objects in view the other lamps 2 end 3 in series The amp invention consists in providing in a gauging defilament ii is shunted by a resistance lliand the vice of the type in which one of three electric "Dlus lamp filament I 2 is shunted by a-switchc}: lamps is illuminated to check parts or articles which is in its closed position when the parts 'o-i to predetermined limits a circuit in which all the indicator are in their normal position. I This I three lamps are in series with a low voltage supswitch 0 comprises leaves i4 and l5carryin'gfcoz'r ply and a resistance in shunt with the lamp which tacts as in the case of the other swi' hes value oi the'resistance I3 is low enough to ensure that when the "minus" lamp l or the "plus" lamp 3 is connected to the supply through the "O. K." lamp 2 shunted by the resistance l3, the "0. K. lamp 2 'will not glow but high enough not to pass too heavy a current when connected to the supply as when all the contact switches A, B mice are and the "O. K." lamp 2 iightsup. When an oversized part is checked the switches A and Bare closed and the switch is open to light upthe plus lamp 3.

According to one constructional form of this in-. vention as shown more particularly in Figures 2 to 6, the indicator comprises a box-like casing ll of substantially triangular shape having an extension l8 at its apex in which is slidabiy mounted with the minimum of side play the indicator spindle or plunger 18 to gauge the work in the usual manner. The casing l1 provides a housing for the switches A, B and C and for the three lamp bulbs I, 2 and 3 and'the resistance 13. This-casing I1 is fitted with a detachable cover [3 having three compartments to isolate the lamps I, 2 and 3. These compartments are conveniently formed by partitions 20 in an arcuate shaped box-like extension 2| of the cover 19 and provided with windows preferably of a distinctive colour. These windows are conveniently marked "minusf O. K." and plus," respectively such as by perforations 22 in the extension 2| of the metal cover H. The central "O. K." window is preferably coloured green, the plus window amber and the minus window red. The extension i8 of the casing H which is of cylindrical shape is adapted to be clamped in a rigging fixed to a table so that work placed on the table can be checked by the upward movement of the spindle or plunger it. Obviously, the indicator device is so designed that it may be mounted in other positions. The upper end of the spindle or plunger i3 which projects into the casing i1 carries an insulated block 23 fitted with thre pins 24, 23 and 26 to actuate leaf springs of switches A, B and C respectively. The spindle or plunger I6 is adapted to be moved against the action of a spring 21 and suitable upper and lower stops 28 and 28 are provided. Each switch comprises a pair of leaf springs as previously described. These leaf springs are provided with co-operating contacts 30 of silver, iridio platinum or other suitable material which obviously must be kept clean and free from foreign matter. The supply voltage is kept as low as possible owing to the minute gaps between open contacts. 3.5 volts has been found satisfactory and may be obtained either from a dry battery or a small step-down transformer. Each leaf spring is rigidly held at one end conveniently in an upright post 3|. Thus three leaf spr g holding posts 3i are provided at each side of t e sliding block 23 carried by the spindle it. The posts 3| are convenientlyslotted at 32 to receive the leaf springs which are held by transversely mounted adjusting and locking screws 33. The posts are mounted on insulating bases or an insulating base 34 secured in the casing I! and connected by leads to the lamps and resistance as previously described. In normal position the lower switch A is maintained out of contact by the lower pin 24 on the block 23 carried by the spindle i6. This lower pin 24 is arranged to contact with the upper surface of the resilient leaf of the switch A so that its contact thereon is spaced from the contact carriedby the opposite post. The intermediate switch C which is 'normally in contact comprises thetWQ resilient leaves I4 and which extendacross'the casing ii. The upper leaf 13 carrying its contact at its outer end is adapted to be moved out of contact by the second'pin 23 on the block, the pin acting on the lower surface of the said leaf I5. The other leaf l4 of this switch which has its contact adjacent to its carrying post 3| has its outer and free end bent to an angle as shown at 35 so as to be engaged-by an adjusting screw 38. This adjusting screw 38 is threaded in a further post 31 and its outer end projects through the casing I! where it is provided with a manipulating head 38 whereby the spring i4 may be deflected to vary the plus limit. The upper switch 3 is of similar construction to the intermediate switch but oppositely arranged so that the upper and third pin 25 is arranged to normally contact with the upper surface of the lower leaf 1. In this case the free end of the upper leaf 9 is bent to an angle 39 to be engaged by an adjusting screw 40 carried by a further post 4!. The outer end of this screw 40 projects through an aperture in the opposite side of the casing I1 and is fitted with a manipulating head 42 to vary the minus limit of this switch. The heads 38 and 42 of these adjusting screws 38 and 40 may be calibrated or provided with any suitable means to visually indicate their adjustment. It will be seen that simple means are provided for setting the plus and minus limits enabling a small movement of the adjustable contact to be effected by a relatively large movement of the manipulating head. The principle employed is that the deflection at any point of a leaf spring, rigidly held at one end, when a deflecting force isapplied at the free end, is proportional to the square of the distance from the fixed end. Means are provided to prevent rotation of the spindle i8 and the sliding block 23 carried thereby. These means are shown more particularly in Figures 5 and 6 and comprise a slider 43 slidably mounted on elongated embossments 44 formed on the base of the casing ll. This slider 43 is secured to the upper portion of the spindle I8 by means of a screw 45 and the block 23 carrying the pins 24 to 26 is secured to a flat formed on the said portion'of the spindle It by screws 46. The upper end of the spindle l6 may also be suitably guided in an embossment 41 formed on the base of the casing 11 and carrying the upper stop 28. The resistance I3 is preferably arranged under an insulating plate 48 carrying the sockets for the lamps I, 2 and 3 and the various parts of the device are wired up in the manner described to a pair of supply terminals :ar sockets 49 provided on the back of the eas- The casing may be of any convenient shape. For instance the casing may be of rectangular shape and the lamp may be arranged vertically and fitted in tubular extensions on the wall of the casing. Further the switch adjusting screws may be arranged to project from one side of the casing.

In a further modified construction the leaf springs of the switches may be arranged vertically in a suitable casing and the pins may be arranged to act on inclined or bent portions of the leaves.

In operation it will be seen that when the pear in one of the three windows, to indicate whether the work is within the predetermined tolerance. The rejects can be sorted into those above the plus limit and those below the minus limit. The operation of the device will be readily understood from the previous description. The movement of the spindle or plunger is transmitted direct to the leaf springs without multiplication. It will be noticed that the change over from the minus to the 0. K3 lamp is eifected in a very simple manner by closing a pair of contacts while the change over from the O. K. to the plus light is efiected by opening another pair.

' Obviously the device may be modified to operate a remote indicator panel or to give audible and/or visual readings or signals. Further a number of devices may be provided to check a.

number of dimensions on a component simultaneously.

What I claim is:

1. A gauging indicator including three electric signals successively and respectively indicating minus, permissibly correct and plus as to articles being gauged, a circuit for energizing the signals in series, a resistance in shunt with the permissibly correct signal, means for controlling said circuit and selectively shunting said plus and minus signals, and a member movably responsive to gauge characteristics of the articles being gauged for operating said means to control circuiting conditions of the respective signals in accordance with member gauging movement.

2. A gauge indicator comprising three electric signals respectively indicating minus, permissibly correct and plus as to articles being gauged} a circuit for energizing the signals in series, a master control for said circuit, a resistance in said circuit in parallel with said permissibly correct signal and in series with said plus and minus signals, means for shunting said plus and minus signals respectively, and a member movably responsive to gauge characteristics of the article being gauged for operating said master control and said means to control eircuiting conditions, of the respective signals in accordance with member gauging movement.

3. A gauge indicator comprising three electric signals respectively indicating minus, permissibly correct and plus as to articles being gauged, a

circuit for energizing the signals in series, a re Y sistance in shunt with the permissibly correct signal, a member'movably responsive to gauge characteristics of the article being gauged, and

w 1943. Copy in Div. 42.

switches to be operated in gauging movement 01 the member to control circuiting conditions of the respective signals in accordance with member movement, said switches being arranged with said circuit so that they are all closed when the permissibly correct signal is energized.

4. A gauge indicator comprising three electric signals respectively indicating minus, permissibly correct and plus as to articles being gauged, a circuit for energizing the signals in series, a resistance in shunt with the permissibly correct signal, a member movably responsive to gauge characteristics of the article being gauged, and switches to be operated in gauging movement of the member to control circuiting conditions of the respective signals in accordance with member movement, said member being provided with pins which are operable in the movement of the member to control the switches.

5.- A gauge indicator comprising three electric signals respectively indicating minus, permissibly correct and plus as to articles being gauged, a circuit for. energizing the signals in series, a resistance in shunt with the permissibly correct signal, a member movably responsive to gauge characteristics of the article being gauged, and

switches to be operated in gauging movement of the member to control circuitlng conditions of the respective signals in accordance with member movement, one of said switches each being in shunt with the plus signal and the minus signal respectively and one of said switches being in series with all of said signals,

ARTHUR RICHARD WARNER.

REFERENCES or'rnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,680,690 Murphy Aug. 14, 1928 1,968,866 Ames Aug. 7, 1934 2,047,408 Emery et al. July 14, 1936 2,238,071 Nazar Apr. 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 555,364 Great Britain Aug. 19, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES Electrotechnisch Zeitschrift Heft 29/30, July 29, 1943', p. 400.

Aircraft Engineering, page 121, Fig. 6. April 

